Getting a tax refund is always a great feeling. But what should you do with it? While the first thing you might be tempted to do is spend it on a splurge for yourself, here are a few other things you might want...

Filing taxes for the first time can be overwhelming. But if you have the right tools and advice before you start, it won’t be. Here are a few critical things to know before you begin, which will make the seemingly...

You’ve just lost your phone and you’re in full-on panic mode. When you locate said electronic device, all is well. You heave a sigh of relief. All of this begs the question: Why and how have we become so...

According to Dr. James Levine, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic, sitting is the new smoking. In his study that spanned 15 years, it was determined that spending more than six hours a day on your behind...

Artificial Intelligence, otherwise known as AI, is not something that exists only in science fiction or Hollywood movies. It’s here. And it’s changing the way accountants are doing business. Here’s how and why....

In the wake of the New Year, many of us burden ourselves with a laundry list of resolutions to do things differently and to improve upon our personal and professional goals. For many entrepreneurs, a new year...

Congress’ recent tax reform bill, the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, aims to lower taxes on corporations and companies. The GOP believes that lower taxes will help American companies to be more competitive and,...

Call it ironic that on the very day Equifax went public with news of its massive data breach, Congress was holding hearings on reducing the regulations imposed on U.S. credit bureaus. Long before the recent breach that...

How much time do your employees squander on various distractions that take their time and attention away from work? Recent surveys from staffing organizations suggest that almost half of participating employers...

The unrelenting pace of life is a reality for many people. Mobile technology keeps us connected 24/7, and the workday seems to have no end. Sometimes we tell ourselves we can’t justify taking time off......

After a serious setback in March, the GOP finally passed a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (often dubbed Obamacare). The bill passed after last minute changes were made to convince ultra...

During his campaign, President Trump took aim at the Tax Code, saying he intended to simplify income tax laws. There is little doubt that a tax code overhaul is on the horizon, but what is less clear is exactly what the...

Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular to help market products or services. Simply stated, a podcast consists of digital audio files posted on the Internet - files that can be downloaded by individual...

Small business owners struggling to find health plans for their staff and facing limited affordable options will welcome new provisions that again allow them access to health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs)......

The ability to embrace and to adapt to change quickly and effectively is perhaps the most important issue for business owners today. Technology, politics, demographic changes and global issues continue to create......

Finding the right people to represent your business and to do the best job of selling its products or services is crucial to the financial health and well-being of your firm. Sales people have a huge......

In the ever challenging field of maximizing profits and providing top class customer service, inventory management is an often overlooked area. Perhaps its time to take a short assessment of your inventory......

Hiring an intern for the summer can be a useful way to add temporary help during the vacation season, and a good way to find potential employees for the future. If you haven't looked for an intern before, here are a few thoughts to get you...

Most small business owners have to make every dollar in their marketing budget count. Easier said than done in a world that offers such a variety of high-tech and traditional marketing tools. Maximizing...

It might be cliché, but beginning the year with renewed enthusiasm and new goals can be a major boost to business success and an excellent way to get back to business basics. Instead of making unrealistic...

According to a recent survey taken by the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp., 40 percent of small businesses worldwide want to be trading internationally by 2013. Firms both large and small are daunted...

A proposal to eliminate the Last In, First Out (LIFO) accounting system has generated alarm and protests from several major industry associations, including the National Federation of Independent Business. The...

The IRS has extended its deadline for U.S. taxpayers to enter a voluntary disclosure program regarding their offshore foreign bank accounts. The IRS decided to extend its initial Aug. 31 deadline by as many...

Whether recording prior periods’ transactions or preparing clients’ tax returns, accountants’ lives consist mainly of looking back at historical transactions, though simply recording those is not going to make a business...

Many entrepreneurs had their share of bad bosses before setting up their own business operations. Trying not to fall into the bad habits of others – or avoiding your own versions – can be a challenge, especially...

Deficit reduction is the hot topic in Washington with reports already released by the President’s bipartisan deficit commission and the bipartisan Rivlin-Domenici Debt Reduction Task Force. Co-chaired...

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 is intended to provide some welcome tax relief to businesses, with the hope of spurring growth and job creation. Many of these provisions are set to expire after 2011....

One of life's many ironies is that you need a solid marketing budget when economic times require you (and everyone else) to tighten the purse strings. To be effective, marketing requires the right mix of reach and frequency - or to put...

Obtaining bank credit - one of the toughest problems facing many small business owners - could get easier soon thanks to a $30 billion credit funding program designed to address the decline in lending to small businesses. This is...

No one expected the healthcare overhaul to be simple. The new regulatory standards governing employer-sponsored plans that were announced in June could mean that as many as 39 percent to 69 percent of employer-sponsored plans...

Sometimes in these days of twittering and instant messaging, it is tempting to question whether business plans are obsolete. The answer is a resounding no. Without a business plan, your ideas, financial...

Given the historic nature of the health care reform legislation, we should not be surprised that all the details will not be worked out for awhile. As part of what became a two-part process, the president...

The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act, signed into law in early November 2009, gives a valuable tax break to businesses that have incurred net operating losses in 2009. Under the general rule, a business owner is permitted...

ItÂ’s not too soon to be thinking about your taxes for 2009. First, it might be time to sit down with your tax professional to see if there are some tax perks out there that would benefit your small business. Second,...

You don't need the financial resources of a large company to brand your products or services successfully. Branding is nothing more than a consistent, simple marketing message that tells prospective buyers what makes...

Recognizing that small business is the bedrock of the economic recovery, the Small Business Administration has made changes to its lending programs recently. The latest initiative is a permanent change...

Money is tight these days, but if you are in the market for a new vehicle, now is the time to buy. Apart from the great discounts available at dealerships with General Motors and Chrysler vehicles in the lot...

Most small-business organizations in the U.S. agree that the health-care system needs a major overhaul. But when it comes to the remedy, opinions vary. Some leading small-business groups recently announced...

Retirees, or people on the verge of retirement, have seen their retirement savings dwindle during the recent economic downturn. Many people are no longer in a position to bolster the incomes of adult children with cash gifts, or to...

Consumers and businesses alike are looking for ways to cut their budgets and, as a result, businesses in every sector have seen sales diminish. Cutting prices might seem like the fastest way to boost sales, but is it the smartest...

There is still time to do a review with your tax professional to make sure you are maximizing all your options for cutting your 2008 tax bill. There’s absolutely no time to waste—so here are some 11th hour tips and...

Economists believe that we should expect slow growth for the first quarter of 2009 and some believe that this pattern might extend into the second quarter, too. Spending cut-backs, tough economic times, and consumer caution are challenges...

Recognizing that many seniors saw their IRA balances hurt by the stock market plunge, Congress has provided some relief by suspending the minimum required distribution (MRD) rules for 2009. This move is...

The federal tax changes in The Housing Act (or to give it its proper title: The American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Act of 2008), are intended to staunch the flow of housing foreclosures, but some changes could sting certain homeowners. You may...

If you have been considering selling a vacation home that you rent out and use for yourself too, and you’re (justifiably) leery of incurring a big tax hit, a recent move—IRS Revenue Procedure 2008-16 that extends...

Things are tough all over. As a direct result of the crisis precipitated by bad housing loans, even people with good credit ratings are finding it tough to borrow money to fund their business ventures. Experts...

Whether or not you are breathing a sigh of relief now that tax time is over, it might be worthwhile taking another look at your 1040 before consigning it to your filing cabinet. Why? Well for starters, your...

As every business owner knows, being busy and working long hours doesn’t always translate into progress and productivity. Perhaps more than any other business executives, small business owners fall victim to a...

’Tis the season to get busy …but not too busy to think about saving money on next year’s tax bill, and doing a few year-end tasks that might just save you plenty. Here are a few things to consider, but remember that these year-end tax...

The Schiavo story demonstrates how important it is to have a medical directive - signed documents that state your wishes in the event of catastrophic illness or an accident that prevent you from communicating...

It is very likely -if it hasn’t happened already- that someone in your family will need a helping hand. Maybe it is a child who is buying a first home, a grandkid that needs help with education expenses, or a...

The road to financial hell is paved with good intentions. And, conversely, for most of us the path to financial independence or wealth is all about action - simple, consistent action. However, simple doesn’t...

It has been said that smart business people learn from their mistakes-even smarter ones learn from the errors of others. Last year’s spate of high profile lawsuits and embarrassing public disclosures...

Auto manufacturers are anxious to help dealers move inventory, and auto leases -- a major trend in the late ’90s-- are back in vogue. If you think leasing might work for you, here are a few pointers to make...

As anyone with an Internet connection knows, there is no shortage of individuals and enterprises offering small business owners the keys to success. The problem is most of these “mines of information” are...

The bad news is—it’s not your imagination. You, along with some 50 million other Americans with email service, are receiving more junk email—or spam-- as it is commonly known. According to technology experts,...

Dependants: Did you know you can deduct dependents, even if they are not a relative? If the person lives with you and you provide more than half of her or his support, you can list them as a dependant. However...

The IRS will issue guidance next month on penalty relief for taxpayers who took necessary steps to prepare for the date change to the year 2000 (Y2K) but were unable to comply with the tax laws due to problems beyond their...